Folding stool or seat.



Patented Mar. 6, I900.

F. YU'NCK.

FOLDING STOOL on. SEAT.

(Application filed Dec. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WASHINGTON a c Uivrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK YUNOK, on BRYAN, or'no.

FOLDING STOOL OR SEAT.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,789., dated March 6, 1900. Appli filed December 19, 1898. Serial No. 699,694i (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK YUNcK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bryan,

in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain newandusefnllmprovements in Folding Stools or Seats, of which the following is a full and true description.

My invention relates to certain improvements in folding stools more particularly designed for use in connection with store-counters, and has for its object to provide certain improvements in the construction thereof whereby a firm and unyielding support may be afforded to the same when projected into position for use and which will automatically return to its folded position beneath the counter when the weight of the user is removed therefrom. This object I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference bein'g had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved construction, shown in full lines in its folded position and in dotted lines in position for use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same in its folded position. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection of the seat proper, showing its hinged connection to the pivoted supports. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the base and the lower ends of the hinged supports. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the friction-plate.

Like letters of reference denote correspond ing parts in the several views.

One feature of my invention is that I pro vide a double support for the seat instead of.

having a single supporting-rod with a sec ondary one for bracing the seat when in use. Another feature is the novel method of attaching two supports to the under side of the seat, and a third is a friction-plate in the base, by which the movement of the. seat in its varying positions may be regulated and the force of the spring controlled.

A, in Fig. 1, indicates a counter under which the seat is folded when not in use. The stool consists of the seat B, rotatingly mounted on a bracket 0 by means of a pintle D, the lower end of which revolves in the plate E. The plate E is provided with a central round opening, through which the pintle D passes upward. The head of the pintle being larger than the opening bears against theunder side of the plate E and when this pintle is fastened in the seat B in any of the usual methods holds the seat firmly to the plate E and permits it to revolve freely. This plate is provided at the four corners with openings F to receive bolts G for the purpose of fastening the yokes H to the plate E. The plate E is provided with four lugs or extensions K K, with half-circular sockets to receive the pivots on the upper end of the supports. The yokes H are provided with similar lugs and sockets to receive and embrace the pivots P on the upper ends of the supports, and also with arms provided with bolt-holes corresponding with the bolt-holes in the plate E, so that the yokes H may be readily attached to the plate E by means of bolts and embrace and hold in place the pivots at the upper ends of the supports L M. By this construction I am able to use the two supports L M, and by placing one at either side of the plate H secure an even bearing for the seat B when in use. The standard or support L has its lower end bent and provided with a shoulder S.

The operation will be understood as follows: As seen in Fig. 1, the relative lengths of the standards or supports L M and their points of connection with the plate E and base 0 are such that the seat B of the stool will assume a vertical position when in its retracted position, but will when projected to the position shown in dotted lines assume a horizontal position, the shoulder S resting on the plate R and the lower end of the standard M bear-ing against the side of the base O-at S, Figs. 1 and 4, thereby afiording a firm support for the stool.. The center of the seat B is over a point'midway between the upper ends of the standards L M, distributing the weight between them. 0 is a housing provided with lugs in the usual form for attaching it to the fioor by screws or in any other convenient way. It has openings in the top plate to receive the supports L M. The top plate P is provided with downwardly-projecting lugs P. These lugs or extensions are constructed with semicircular notches to receive the pivots of the supports L M. Thelower side of the housing 0 is entirely open. R is the friction-plate. This friction-plate is provided with upwardlyextending lugs R, corresponding with the lugs P, and also provided with semicircular notches, as at 1", Fig. 5, to embrace the pivots. This friction-plate R is fastened to the housing 0 by bolts Q. As these bolts are drawn tight the friction-plate is forced up against the end of the support L and also against the end of the support M, so as to produce a greater or less amount of friction. A coiled U-shaped spring is wound about the pivots of one of the supports, preferably L, as shown in Fig. 3, the free end bearing against the plate E and the other end bearing against the surface of the support L, as seen at T, Fig. 3. The effect of this spring is to force the seat 13 into a vertical position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. In order, however, to prevent this spring throwing the seat up into this position too sharply, the friction-plate R is used, and by tightening up the bolts Q this plate R may be made to bear upon the lower ends of the supports L M to produce sufficient friction to cause the seat to move up slowly. To prevent the jar or shock when the weight is released from the seat and the stool assumes the vertical position too quickly, I provide a rubber cushion V, which is fastened in any convenient Way to one of the two standards, so as to take the blow as they come together at that point and relieve. the jar.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1'. In a folding stool, the combination with a seat, and two standards pivotally secured to said seat on opposite sides of the center, of a baseor housing provided with a slot, said standards provided with toes or pivots, and friction-plate having lugs provided with semicircular notches to take over said toes or pivots on the standards, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

2. In a folding stool, the combination of a seat, bracket secured to said seat, a plate having pivotal connection with said bracket, and standards having pivots, with a yoke secured to said plate, the yoke and plate provided with sockets for the reception of the pivots on the standards, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a folding stool, the combination with a seat, and bracket secured to said seat, a plate having pivotal connection with said bracket, and yoke secured to saidplat'e, of standards provided with pivots which take between the pivoted plate and yoke, and spring having controlling contact with said standards, whereby the standards are drawn into connected to said plate, and yoke provided with semicircular notches secured to said plate, of a pair of standards provided with lugs which take in said semicircular notches in the yoke, and spring having controllable contact with one of said standards, whereby the standards are drawn into vertical position and the seat tilted, substantially as shown and in the manner described.

5. In a folding stool, the combination with a seat provided with a bracket, a plate having pintle connection with said bracket, two standards pivotally secured to opposite sides of the center of said seat, by means of a yoke, said standards having toes orpivots on their ends, of a base provided with a friction-plate, said base and plate having lugs with semicircular notches within which the standardtoes take, and spring having controllable connection with one of said standards whose nor mal tendency is to draw the standards into vertical position, substantially as shown and in the manner specified.

6. In a folding stool comprising a seat and standards secured on opposite sides of the center of said seat, said standards provided with toes or extensions at their ends, the combination of a base provided with a slot, and

friction-plate adjustably secured in said base,

said base and plate having lugs with semicircular notches in which the standard-toes take, a spring acting on one of said stand-- 

